News production system with dynamic character generator output

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, an example method involves: accessing, by a computing device, data associated with an election; using, by a computing device, the accessed data to determine a status associated with a voting option of the election; using, by the computing device, the determined status as a basis to select a content storage-location from among multiple content storage-locations, wherein each of the multiple content storage-locations corresponds with a respective content placeholder of a content template; and storing, by the computing device, in the selected content storage-location, (i) a content item associated with the voting option or (ii) a reference to the content item.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This disclosure is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/809,673, filed Jul. 27, 2015, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

USAGE AND TERMINOLOGY

In this disclosure, with respect to all reasonable derivatives of suchterms, unless otherwise specified and/or unless the particular contextclearly dictates otherwise, each usage of “a” or “an” means at leastone, and each usage of “the” means the at least one.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise specified, the materials described in this section arenot prior art to the claims in this disclosure and are not admitted tobe prior art by inclusion in this section.

A news production system (NPS) may generate and output a video streamrepresenting a news program. The NPS may include various components toaid in the process of generating and outputting the video stream. Forexample, the NPS may include a scheduling system, which may provide auser interface that allows a user (e.g., a producer or technicaldirector) to create and/or edit a program schedule of the news program.The scheduling system may then process records in the program schedule,and based on the processed records, control one or more devices,systems, or other entities of the NPS to facilitate generating andoutputting the video stream.

The NPS may also include a character generator, which may use a set ofcontent items to generate a video stream representing video content thatincludes the content items.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, an example method includes: accessing, by a computingdevice, data associated with an election; using, by a computing device,the accessed data to determine a status associated with a voting optionof the election; using, by the computing device, the determined statusas a basis to select a content storage-location from among multiplecontent storage-locations, wherein each of the multiple contentstorage-locations corresponds with a respective content placeholder of acontent template; and storing, by the computing device, in the selectedcontent storage-location, (i) a content item associated with the votingoption or (ii) a reference to the content item.

In a second aspect, an example non-transitory computer-readable mediumhas stored thereon, program instructions that when executed by aprocessor, cause the computing device to perform a set of actsincluding: accessing data associated with an election; using theaccessed data to determine a status associated with a voting option ofthe election; using the determined status as a basis to select a contentstorage-location from among multiple content storage-locations, whereineach of the multiple content storage-locations corresponds with arespective content placeholder of a content template; and storing in theselected content storage-location, (i) a content item associated withthe voting option or (ii) a reference to the content item.

In a third aspect, an example system includes a data storage unitincluding multiple content storage-locations, wherein each of themultiple content storage-locations corresponds with a respective contentplaceholder of a content template, and wherein the system is configuredto perform a set of acts including: accessing data associated with anelection; using the accessed data to determine a status associated witha voting option of the election; using the determined status as a basisto select a content storage-location from among the multiple contentstorage-locations; and storing in the selected content storage-location,(i) a content item associated with the voting option or (ii) a referenceto the content item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing device.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example system.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of another example system.

FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration of an example content template.

FIG. 5A is a simplified block diagram of a set of contentstorage-locations, in a first state.

FIG. 5B is a simplified block diagram of the set of contentstorage-locations of FIG. 4B, but in a second state.

FIG. 6A is a simplified illustration of a frame of an example videosegment.

FIG. 6B is a simplified illustration of another frame of the examplevideo segment of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a simplified illustration of a frame of an example videosegment, where no content is overlaid on the frame.

FIG. 7B is a simplified illustration of a frame of an example videosegment, where content is overlaid on the frame.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Overview

As noted above, a character generator may use a set of content items togenerate a video stream representing video content that includes thecontent items. In one example, through a user interface of the charactergenerator, a user may specify an arrangement of the content items. Thecharacter generator may then use the set of content items andcorresponding arrangement information, to generate a video streamrepresenting video content that includes the content items in thespecified arrangement.

In a scenario where an NPS produces a news program that providescoverage of an election, the content items may relate to various votingoptions of the election. For example, where the election involves aprocess where voters vote to determine which of a first candidate and asecond candidate obtains a political office, a first content item may betext indicating a name of the first candidate, and a second content itemmay be text indicating an amount of votes tabulated for the firstcandidate (perhaps expressed as a percentage of all voted tabulated).Similarly, a third content item may be text indicating a name of thesecond candidate, and a fourth content item may be text indicating anamount of votes tabulated for the second candidate.

Through the user interface of the character generator, the user mayarrange the content items by grouping the first and second content itemsinto a first group, grouping the third and fourth content items into asecond group, and positioning the first group above the second group.Thus, in the video content represented by the video stream, the contentitems corresponding to the first candidate may be above the contentitems corresponding to the second candidate.

In some instances though, it may be desired to modify the video streamgenerated by the character generator during production of the newsprogram. For example, where the second candidate overtakes the firstcandidate in an amount of tabulated votes, it may be desired to modifythe video stream such that the content items corresponding to the secondcandidate are above the content items corresponding to the firstcandidate.

The present disclosure provides an NPS that helps address this issue. Inone aspect, the NPS includes an election system in addition to acharacter generator. The election system collects and organizes varioustypes of election-related data.

The election system may access data associated with an election, and mayuse the accessed data to determine a status associated with a votingoption of the election. In one example, the election may be an electionfor a political office, and the voting option may be a candidate for thepolitical office. The status may be a ranking of the voting optionbased, at least in part, on a comparison between an amount of votestabulated for the voting option and an amount of voted tabulated foranother voting option of the election.

Next, the election system may use the determined status as a basis toselect a content storage-location from among multiple contentstorage-locations, where each of the multiple content storage-locationscorresponds with a respective content placeholder of a content template.The content storage-locations may be part of a data storage unitincluded in the election system, a video source (e.g., a charactergenerator), or another device. The election system may then store, inthe selected content storage-location, a content item associated withthe voting option. Avideo source (e.g., a character generator) may thenuse the stored content item to generate a video stream representingvideo content that includes the stored content item positioned based ona position of the content placeholder. In another example, the electionsystem may store, in the selected content storage-location, a reference(e.g., a link in the form of a URL or file path, or a reference code,such as a Boolean value) to the content item. In this case, the videosource may use the reference to retrieve the content item, and then usethe retrieved content item to generate the video stream.

To illustrate how this technique may be applied in practice, consider acontent template having a first group of content placeholders positionedabove a second group of content placeholders. In the case where a firstcandidate is leading over a second candidate in an election, theelection system may store content items associated with the firstcandidate in content storage-locations that correspond to theplaceholders of the first group. Similarly, the election system maystore content items associated with the second candidate in contentstorage-locations that correspond to the placeholders of the secondgroup. However, if the second candidate then takes a lead over the firstcandidate, the election system may store content items associated withthe second candidate in the content storage-locations that correspond tothe placeholders of the first group (i.e., replacing the previouslystored content). Similarly, the election system may store content itemsassociated with the first candidate in the content storage-locationsthat correspond to the placeholders of the second group.

This may result in the content items corresponding to the firstcandidate and the second candidate being flipped within the videocontent. From the perspective of a viewer, this may be more desirablesince the content items associated with the leading candidate may be ina more prominent position than the content items associated with thesecond place candidate.

II. Example Devices and Systems

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing device 100.Computing device 100 may perform various acts and/or functions, such asthose described in this disclosure (including the accompanyingdrawings). Computing device 100 may include various components, such asprocessor 102, data storage unit 104, communication interface 106,and/or user interface 108. These components may be connected to eachother (or to another device, system, or other entity) via connectionmechanism 110.

As used in this disclosure, the term connection mechanism means amechanism that facilitates communication between two or more devices,systems, or other entities. A communication mechanism may be arelatively simple mechanism, such as a cable or system bus, or arelatively complex mechanism, such as a packet-based communicationnetwork (e.g., the Internet). In some instances, a connection mechanismmay include a non-tangible medium (e.g., where the connection iswireless).

Processor 102 may include a general-purpose processor (e.g., amicroprocessor) and/or a special-purpose processor (e.g., a digitalsignal processor (DSP)).

Data storage unit 104 may include one or more volatile, non-volatile,removable, and/or non-removable storage components, such as magnetic,optical, or flash storage, and/or may be integrated in whole or in partwith processor 102. Further, data storage unit 104 may take the form ofa non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereonprogram instructions (e.g., compiled or non-compiled program logicand/or machine code) that, when executed by processor 102, causecomputing device 100 to perform one or more acts and/or functions, suchas those described in this disclosure. As such, computing device 100 maybe configured to perform one or more acts and/or functions, such asthose described in this disclosure. Such program instructions may defineand/or be part of a discrete software application that can be executedin response to certain inputs being received from communicationinterface 106 and/or user interface 108, for instance. Data storage unit104 may also store other types of data, such as those types described inthis disclosure.

Communication interface 106 may allow computing device 100 to connect toand/or communicate with a device, system, or other entity according toone or more protocols. In one example, communication interface 106 maybe a wired interface, such as an Ethernet interface or a high-definitionserial-digital-interface (HD-SDI). In another example, communicationinterface 106 may be a wireless interface, such as a cellular or WI-FIinterface. Each connection described in this disclosure may be a directconnection or an indirect connection, the latter being a connection thatpasses through and/or traverses one or more devices, systems, or otherentities, such as such as a router, switcher, or other network device.

User interface 108 may facilitate interaction with a user of computingdevice 100, if applicable. As such, user interface 108 may include inputcomponents such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch-sensitivepanel, a microphone, and/or a camera, and/or output components such as adisplay device (which, for example, may be combined with atouch-sensitive panel), a sound speaker, and/or a haptic feedbacksystem.

Computing device 100 may take various forms, such as a workstation, adesktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, and/or a mobile phone.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example system 200. System200 may include various components, such as news production system (NPS)202, video-broadcast system 204, and end-user device 206, each of whichmay be implemented as a computing device or a system that includes oneor more computing devices. System 200 may also include connectionmechanism 208, which connects NPS 202 with video-broadcast system 204;and connection mechanism 210, which connects video-broadcast system 204with end-user device 206.

NPS 202 may generate a video stream representing a news program, and maythen transmit the video stream to video-broadcast system 204.Video-broadcast system 204 may then receive the video stream andtransmit the video stream to end-user device 206 for presentation of therepresented video content to an end-user. In practice, video-broadcastsystem 204 may transmit the video stream to a large number of end-userdevices for presentation of the represented video content to a largenumber of end-users.

A video stream may be transmitted according to a variety of differentstandards. For instance, a video stream may be transmitted according tothe high-definition serial digital interface (HD-SDI) with a datatransfer rate of 1.485 Gbps. In some instances, a video stream may beencoded and the encoded version of the video stream may be transmittedinstead of the original video stream.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of an example NPS 202. NPS 202 mayinclude various components, such as video source 302, DVE system 304,scheduling system 306, and election system 308, each of which may beimplemented as computing device or a system that includes one or morecomputing devices. NPS 202 may also include connection mechanism 310,which connects video source 302 with DVE system 304; connectionmechanism 311, which connects video source 302 to election system 308;connection mechanism 312, which connects scheduling system 306 withvideo source 302; connection mechanism 314, which connects schedulingsystem 306 with DVE system 304; and connection mechanism 316, whichconnects scheduling system 306 with election system 308.

Video source 302 may generate and/or output a video stream, and maytransmit the video stream to DVE system 304. Video source 302 may takevarious forms, such as a video camera, a satellite receiver, a videoserver, or a character generator. An example video server is the K2server provided by Grass Valley™ of San Francisco, Calif.

A character generator may generate a video stream based on input data.For example, a character generator may use a set of content items and acontent template to generate a video stream representing video contentthat includes the content items positioned based on the template. Anexample character generator is the Viz Trio provided by Viz Rt™ ofBergen Norway.

A content item may include various types of content, such as text and/oran image. For example, a content item may include text indicating a nameof a candidate, text indicating a political party of a candidate, textindicating an amount of votes tabulated for a candidate, or textindicating “yes” or “no.” As additional examples, a content item mayinclude a photograph of a candidate, a photograph of a checked orunchecked (perhaps marked with an “x”) checkbox to indicate whether acandidate has been declared a winner. Still further, a content item maybe a background color or other color setting. This may allow, forinstance, data associated with a Democratic party candidate to be shownon a blue background, or may allow data associated with a Republicanparty candidate to be shown on a red background. Similarly, textindicating “yes” may be shown on a green background, or text indicating“no” may be shown on a red background. In other examples, the text maybe outlined with a colored border, or the text itself may be aparticular color. Such colors may be indicated, for instance, as asix-digit hex value in standard RGB format.

A content template may include, arranged in a particular position, acontent item and/or a content placeholder that corresponds to a contentstorage-location, in which a content item may be stored. When generatinga video stream representing video content, the character generator mayreplace the content placeholder with the content item stored in thecorresponding content storage-location. In the case where a reference isstored in the content storage-location, the character generator may usethe reference as a basis to determine (e.g., using a mapping table) whatcontent item to store in the content storage-location.

FIG. 4 helps illustrate the concept of a content template. FIG. 4 is asimplified illustration of a content template 400. Template 400 includescontent 401, and content placeholders 402 a-d. It should be noted thattemplate 400 has been greatly simplified for the purposes ofillustrating certain features. In practice, a template is likely toinclude more content items and/or content placeholders.

FIGS. 5A and 5B helps illustrate the concept of a content-storagelocation that corresponds to a content placeholder of a contenttemplate. FIG. 5A is a simplified illustration of a set 500 of contentstorage-locations 502 a-d, in a first state. Storage-location 502 acorresponds with content placeholder 402 a; storage-location 502 bcorresponds with content placeholder 402 b; storage-location 502 ccorresponds with content placeholder 402 c; and storage-location 502 dcorresponds with content placeholder 402 d. FIG. 5B is a simplifiedillustration of the set 500 of content storage-locations 502 a-d, in asecond state. As shown, the data stored in the content storage-locations502 a-d changes from the first state to the second state.

FIG. 6A helps illustrate a frame of video content generated based on acontent template and a corresponding content storage-location. FIG. 6Ais a simplified illustration of a frame 600 generated based on template400 and corresponding content storage-locations 502 a-d, in the firststate. FIG. 6B is a simplified illustration of a frame 602 generatedbased on template 400 and corresponding content storage-locations 502a-d, in the second state. As shown, based on the changed state of thecontent storage-locations 502 a-d, the arrangement of select contentitems changes from frame 600 to frame 602.

DVE system 304 may execute a DVE, which may cause DVE system 304 togenerate and/or output a video stream. DVE system 304 may then transmitthe generated video stream to another device, system, or entity, such asvideo-broadcast system 204.

In one example, DVE system 304 may receive from video source 302, avideo stream representing a video segment, and may execute a DVE, whichcauses DVE system 304 to modify the video segment and to generate andoutput a new video stream representing the modified video segment.

DVE system 304 may modify the video segment in various ways, such as byoverlaying text, images, video, or other content thereon. For example,DVE system 304 may modify the video segment by overlaying a channel logoin a lower right-hand corner of the video segment. As another example,DVE system 304 may modify the video segment by overlaying a text boxincluding text over a lower-third portion of the video segment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B help illustrate the concept of overlaying content. FIG.7A is a simplified illustration of a frame 700 of an example videosegment. Frame 700 includes content 702, but does not include contentoverlaid on content 702. For comparison, FIG. 7B is a simplifiedillustration of a frame 750 of an example video segment. Frame 752includes content 752 and content 754 overlaid on content 752.

As noted above, DVE system 304 may execute a DVE, which causes DVEsystem 304 to generate a video stream by modifying a video segmentrepresented by an existing video stream. However, as another example,DVE system 304 may execute a DVE, which causes DVE system 304 togenerate a video stream without using an existing video stream. In thiscase, rather than overlaying content on an existing video segment, DVEsystem 304 may instead generate a new video segment, and may generate avideo stream representing the generated video segment.

DVE system 304 may obtain content for use in connection with executing aDVE in various ways. For example, DVE system 304 may retrieve suchcontent from a data storage unit in the DVE system. As another example,DVE system 304 may receive such content from another source, such asvideo source 302 or election system 308.

In practice, DVE system 304 may execute multiple DVEs in serial fashion.Further, in practice, NPS 202 may include multiple video sources and/ormultiple DVE systems. For example, in one arrangement, each of multiplevideo sources may be connected to DVE system 304, and DVE system 304 mayswitch between one or more inputs as appropriate to execute a given DVE.

DVE system 304 may also perform other acts/or functions related to DVEs.For example, DVE system 304 may provide a user interface that allows auser to create and/or edit DVEs. When DVE system 304 creates a DVE, DVEsystem 304 may generate and store corresponding program instructions forlater retrieval and execution. As such, the process of the DVE system304 executing a DVE may involve DVE system retrieving and executingprogram instructions corresponding to the DVE.

DVE system 304 may take various forms, such as a production switcher. Anexample production switcher is the Vision Octane production switcherprovided by Ross Video Ltd. of Iroquois, Ontario in Canada.

Scheduling system 306 may perform acts and/or functions related toscheduling and managing the production of a news program. For example,scheduling system 306 may provide a user interface that allows a user tocreate and/or edit a program schedule of a news program. Further,scheduling system 306 may process records in a program schedule. Thismay result in scheduling system 306 controlling one or more otherdevices, systems, or entities of the NPS 202 to cause NPS 202 togenerate and/or output a video stream representing a news program. Assuch, based on a program schedule, scheduling system 306 may controlvideo source 302 and DVE system 304.

A program schedule (sometimes referred to in the industry as a“rundown”) serves as an outline of a news program and may includemultiple records. A news program may be conceptually divided intomultiple logically-separated portions (sometimes referred to in theindustry as “stories”). As such, each portion of the news program may berepresented by a separate record of the program schedule. Each recordmay include various types of information.

Election system 308 may facilitate the process of gathering, organizing,and outputting election-related data. Such data may come from varioussources, such as from government-operated reporting systems, and maytake various forms. Such data may indicate various types of informationabout elections, such as titles of political offices that are thesubject of the elections, names and other information of candidates,amounts of votes cast and/or tabulated for candidates, amounts andidentifies of precincts or other zones reporting tabulated votes, and/orprojections of election outcomes.

In this disclosure, the terms “election” means any type of vote-baseddecision-making process. In one example, an election may involve aprocess where voters vote to determine which candidate obtains apolitical office. In another example, an election may involve aballot-initiative process where voters vote to determine whether or nota proposed law becomes law. As such, an election may have various typesof voting options.

Video-broadcast system 204 may distribute a video stream to an end-userdevice for presentation of video content represented by the video streamto an end-user. In practice, video-broadcast system 204 may distribute avideo stream to a mass number of end-user devices for presentation ofvideo content represented by the video stream to a mass number ofend-users. Video-broadcast system 204 may include various systems orcomponents, such as a terrestrial antenna or a satellite, and may beconfigured for distributing the video stream to end-user device 206 invarious ways. For example, video-broadcast system 204 may distribute thevideo stream over-the-air or via a packet-based network such as theInternet.

End-user device 206 may present video content represented by a receivedvideo stream to an end-user. End-user device 26 may take a variety offorms, such as a television, a television set-top box, and/or acomputing device. As used throughout this disclosure, the termvideo-broadcast means the distribution of video via any means.

In some examples, in addition to generating and outputting a videostream representing video content, NPS 202 may generate and output anaudio stream representing corresponding audio content. Similarly, insome examples, a video-broadcast system may be integrated with anaudio-broadcast system, such that a video stream representing videocontent may be broadcast together with an audio stream representingcorresponding audio content. Likewise, in some examples, in addition topresenting video content represented by a video stream, end-user device206 may present corresponding audio content represented by a receivedaudio stream. In any of these examples, a video stream and an audiostream may be combined into a single media stream.

III. Example Operations

In one aspect, election system 308 may perform various acts, which willnow be described. First, election system 308 may access data associatedwith an election, and may use the accessed data to determine a statusassociated with a voting option of the election. In one example, theelection may be an election for a political office, and the votingoption may be a candidate for the political office. Further, in oneexample, the status may be a ranking of the voting option based, atleast in part, on a comparison between an amount of votes tabulated forthe voting option and an amount of voted tabulated for another votingoption of the election.

Next, election system 308 may use the determined status as a basis toselect a content storage-location from among multiple contentstorage-locations, where each of the multiple content storage-locationscorresponds with a respective content placeholder of a content template.Election system 308 may then store, in the selected contentstorage-location, a content item associated with the voting option.Election system 308 may store the content item while the video stream isbeing generated, thereby causing the video content to be modified inreal-time or near real-time. From the perspective of a viewer, this maybe more desirable since the content items associated with the leadingcandidate may be in a more prominent position than the content itemsassociated with the second place candidate. Video source 308 may thenuse the stored content item (e.g., retrieved via connection mechanism311) to generate a video stream representing video content that includesthe stored content item positioned based on a position of the contentplaceholder.

In another example, election system 308 may store, in the selectedcontent storage-location, a reference to the content item. In this case,video source 302 may use the reference (e.g., retrieved via connectionmechanism 311) to retrieve the content item, and then use the retrievedcontent item to generate the video stream. In the case where a referenceis stored in the content storage-location, video source 308 may use thereference as a basis to determine (e.g., using a mapping table) whatcontent item to store in the content storage-location.

To illustrate this technique, consider content template 400. In the casewhere a first candidate is leading over a second candidate in anelection, election system 308 may store content items associated withthe first candidate in content storage-locations 502 a-b, and may storecontent items associated with the second candidate in contentstorage-locations 502 c-d (as shown in FIG. 5A). However, in the casewhere the second candidate then takes a lead over the first candidate,election system 308 may store content items associated with the secondcandidate in content storage-locations 502 a-b, and may store contentitems associated with the first candidate in content storage-locations502 c-d (as shown in FIG. 5B). This may allow a character generator togenerate a video stream representing video content that is dynamicallyarranged based on a status associated with an election. In particular,upon the first candidate taking the lead over the second candidate, thegenerated video stream may change as shown between FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

While the example provided above involves two candidates, other examplesmay involve more candidates (or other voting options). For instance, inthe case where an election involves three candidates, election system308 cause content items associated with the candidates to be rearrangedin various ways, as desired.

In another example, where the election involves voters voting “yes” or“no” on a ballot initiative, it may be desired to have the voting optionwith the most amount of tabulated votes on top. However, in otherinstances, it may be desired to have the “yes” option on top of the “no”option regardless of the amounts of tabulated votes. To provide for bothof these options, a user interface of election system 308 may allow auser to select the desired option, and as a result, election system 308may apply the appropriate logic to facilitate it.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 800. At block 802,method 800 may include accessing, by a computing device, data associatedwith an election.

At block 804, method 800 may include using, by a computing device, theaccessed data to determine a status associated with a voting option ofthe election.

At block 806, method 800 may include using, by the computing device, thedetermined status as a basis to select a content storage-location fromamong multiple content storage-locations, wherein each of the multiplecontent storage-locations corresponds with a respective contentplaceholder of a content template.

At block 808, method 800 may include storing, by the computing device,in the selected content storage-location, a content item associated withthe voting option or a reference to the content item.

IV. Example Variations

Each of the systems, devices, or other entities described in thisdisclosure may or may not be a discrete entity. As such, each of thedescribed entities may be made up of multiple discrete entities.Further, two or more of the described entities may be combined into asingle discrete entity.

Although some of the acts and/or functions described in this disclosurehave been described as being performed by a particular entity (e.g.,election system 308), such acts and/or functions may be performed by anyentity, such as those described in this disclosure (e.g., video source302). Further, although the described acts and/or functions have beenrecited in a particular order, the acts and/or functions need not beperformed in the order recited. However, in some instances, it may bedesired to perform the acts and/or functions in the order recited. Also,not all of the described acts and/or functions need to be performed toachieve one or more of the benefits provided by this disclosure, andtherefore not all acts and/or functions are required.

Although certain variations have been discussed in connection with oneor more example of this disclosure, such variations may also be appliedto all of the other examples of this disclosure as well.

Although select examples of this disclosure have been described,alterations and permutations of these examples will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Other changes, substitutions, and/oralterations are also possible without departing from the invention inits broader aspects as set forth in the following claims.

1. A method comprising: accessing, by a computing device at a firsttime, data associated with an election; selecting, by the computingdevice, a first content storage-location from among multiple contentstorage-locations, wherein the selected first content storage-locationcorresponds with a first content placeholder of a content template;storing, by the computing device, in the selected first contentstorage-location, (i) a content item associated with a voting option ofthe election or (ii) a reference to the content item; using, by thecomputing device, the stored content item to generate a video streamrepresenting video content that includes the content item positionedbased on a position of the first content placeholder; accessing, by thecomputing device at a second time, the data associated with theelection; using, by the computing device, the data accessed at thesecond time to determine a status associated with the voting option ofthe election; using, by the computing device, the determined status as abasis to select a second content storage-location from among themultiple content storage-locations, wherein the selected second contentstorage-location corresponds with a second content placeholder of thecontent template that is different from the first content placeholder;storing, by the computing device, in the selected second contentstorage-location, (i) the content item associated with the voting optionor (ii) the reference to the content item; and using, by the computingdevice, the content item to generate a modified video streamrepresenting video content that includes the content item positionedbased on a position of the second content placeholder.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: using, by the computing device, the dataaccessed at the first time to determine a first status associated with avoting option of the election, wherein selecting the first contentstorage-location from among multiple content storage-locations comprisesusing, by the computing device, the determined first status as a basisto select the first content storage-location from among multiple contentstorage-locations.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the statuscomprises a ranking of the voting option based, at least in part, on acomparison between an amount of votes tabulated for the voting optionand an amount of voted tabulated for another voting option of theelection.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the election comprises anelection for a political office, and wherein the voting option comprisesa candidate for the political office.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinthe content item associated with the voting option comprises aphotograph of the candidate.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein thecontent item associated with the voting option comprises text indicatinga name of the candidate.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the contentitem associated with the voting option comprises text indicating anamount of votes tabulated for the candidate.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: transmitting the video stream to an end-user devicefor presentation of the video content to an end-user.
 9. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, programinstructions that when executed by a processor, cause the computingdevice to perform a set of acts comprising: accessing, at a first time,data associated with an election; selecting a first contentstorage-location from among multiple content storage-locations, whereinthe selected first content storage-location corresponds with a firstcontent placeholder of a content template; storing, in the selectedfirst content storage-location, (i) a content item associated with avoting option of the election or (ii) a reference to the content item;using the stored content item to generate a video stream representingvideo content that includes the content item positioned based on aposition of the first content placeholder; accessing, at a second time,the data associated with the election; using the data accessed at thesecond time to determine a status associated with the voting option ofthe election; using the determined status as a basis to select a secondcontent storage-location from among the multiple contentstorage-locations, wherein the selected second content storage-locationcorresponds with a second content placeholder of the content templatethat is different from the first content placeholder; storing, in theselected second content storage-location, (i) the content itemassociated with the voting option or (ii) the reference to the contentitem; and using the stored content item to generate a modified videostream representing video content that includes the content itempositioned based on a position of the second content placeholder. 10.The computer-readable medium of claim 9, the set of acts furthercomprising: using the data accessed at the first time to determine afirst status associated with a voting option of the election, whereinselecting the first content storage-location from among multiple contentstorage-locations comprises using the determined first status as a basisto select the first content storage-location from among multiple contentstorage-locations.
 11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, whereinthe status comprises a ranking of the voting option based, at least inpart, on a comparison between an amount of votes tabulated for thevoting option and an amount of voted tabulated for another voting optionof the election.
 12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, whereinthe election comprises an election for a political office, and whereinthe voting option comprises a candidate for the political office. 13.The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the content itemassociated with the voting option comprises a photograph of thecandidate.
 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein thecontent item associated with the voting option comprises text indicatinga name of the candidate.
 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12,wherein the content item associated with the voting option comprisestext indicating an amount of votes tabulated for the candidate.
 16. Asystem comprising a data storage unit including multiple contentstorage-locations, wherein each of the multiple contentstorage-locations corresponds with a respective content placeholder of acontent template, and wherein the system is configured to perform a setof acts comprising: accessing, at a first time, data associated with anelection; selecting a first content storage-location from among multiplecontent storage-locations, wherein the selected first contentstorage-location corresponds with a first content placeholder of acontent template; storing, in the selected first contentstorage-location, (i) a content item associated with a voting option ofthe election or (ii) a reference to the content item; using the storedcontent item to generate a video stream representing video content thatincludes the content item positioned based on a position of the firstcontent placeholder; accessing, at a second time, the data associatedwith the election; using the data accessed at the second time todetermine a status associated with the voting option of the election;using the determined status as a basis to select a second contentstorage-location from among the multiple content storage-locations,wherein the selected second content storage-location corresponds with asecond content placeholder of the content template that is differentfrom the first content placeholder; storing, in the selected secondcontent storage-location, (i) the content item associated with thevoting option or (ii) the reference to the content item; and using thestored content item to generate a modified video stream representingvideo content that includes the content item positioned based on aposition of the second content placeholder.
 17. The system of claim 16,the set of acts further comprising: using the data accessed at the firsttime to determine a first status associated with a voting option of theelection, wherein selecting the first content storage-location fromamong multiple content storage-locations comprises using the determinedfirst status as a basis to select the first content storage-locationfrom among multiple content storage-locations.
 18. The system of claim16, wherein the status comprises a ranking of the voting option based,at least in part, on a comparison between an amount of votes tabulatedfor the voting option and an amount of voted tabulated for anothervoting option of the election.
 19. The system of claim 16, wherein theelection comprises an election for a political office, and wherein thevoting option comprises a candidate for the political office.
 20. Thesystem of claim 19, wherein the content item associated with the votingoption comprises a photograph of the candidate, text indicating a nameof the candidate, or text indicating an amount of votes tabulated forthe candidate.